A health care agent or proxy

NOTE: It does not give power to anyone to make legal or financial decisions for you.

DNR (do not resuscitate) order.This tells health care providers not to do CPR if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating. Your doctor talks to you, the proxy, or family about this choice. The doctor writes the order on your medical chart.

DNR (do not resuscitate) order

A do not resuscitate order, or DNR, is a medical order written by a doctor. It instructs health care providers not to do cardiopulmonary resuscitati...

Fill out an organ donation card and carry it in your wallet. Keep a second card with your important papers. You can find out about organ donation from your doctor. You can also have this choice listed on your driver's license.

Verbal instructions. These are your choices aboutcare that you tell health care providers or family members. Verbal wishes usually replace those you made previously in writing.

What Else?

Write your living will or health care power of attorney according to your state's laws.

Take a copy with you if you are in a hospital. Tell all medical staff involved in your care about the documents.

You can change your decisions at any time. Be sure to tell everyone involved -- family, proxies, and health care providers -- if a living will is changed. Copy, save, and share the new instructions with them.

References

A Closer Look

Talking to your MD

Self Care

Tests for Advance care directives

Related Information

Review Date:
4/7/2012

Reviewed By:
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.